Authors and Illustrators

Authors and Artists for Young Adults. Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1989- .

This reference series was intended to bridge the gap between Something About the Author, which is for children, and Contemporary Authors, designed for adults. Each teen-friendly entry contains biographical information, lists of published works, and photographs.

Authors of Books for Young People. 3rd ed. Metuchen, New Jersey, 1990.

This biographical dictionary contains brief entries for nearly 4,000 children's authors and illustrators. References point to additional information in Contemporary Authors.

DeLong, J.A. and Schwedt, R.E. Contemporary Christian Authors. 2000.

Focuses on story makers who have achieved a wide following through at least one outstanding contribution to the market. Some are recognized in more than one genre, and many publish across age levels. All authors were living at the time of publication. Includes personal information about the author and a list of publications with their date. Selected works include summaries.

Doyle, Brian. The Who's Who of Children's Literature. New York: Schocken Books, 1968.

Biographical information and selected lists of publications for more than 300 authors from the early nineteenth century through 1968 are included in this source.

Hipple, Ted. ed. Writers for Young Adults. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1997.

Like Authors & Artists for Young Adults, this three-volume biographical set is devoted to authors who write for teens and young people. Each entry contains biographical information, quotations from the author, and selected bibliographies of published works. The third volume contains the indexes.

Holtze, Sally Holmes. Seventh Book of Junior Authors & Illustrators. New York: H.W. Wilson Co., 1996.

The authors and illustrators included in this volume were chosen by a committee of young adult and children's literature specialists. The criteria for inclusion was based on reviews, criticism, and awards received. The index also includes the authors and illustrators in all six of the previous editions in the series.

Lanes, Selma. G. The Art of Maurice Sendak. New York: Abrams, 1980.

Sendak fans take note! Lane's biographical look at Sendak's work includes photographs of the artist and his family as well as numerous full color reproductions of his well-known illustrations

Laughlin, Jeannine L. and Sherry Laughlin. Children's Authors Speak. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc., 1993.

This book contains the transcripts of acceptance speeches from more than 50 authors and illustrators who received the University of Southern Mississippi's Medallion for children's literature. The book's introduction gives a profile of the de Grummond collection of Children's Literature and the Medallion award.

Meyer, Susan E. A Treasury of the Great Children's Book Illustrators. New York: Abradale Press, Harry N. Abrams Inc., 1987.

This treasury contains 13 essays and 93 color plates celebrating the works of illustrators such as Walter Crane, Kate Greenway, Edward Lear, and Beatrix Potter. A bibliography and index are included.

Miller, Bertha E. Mahoney. Illustrators of Children's Books, 1744-1945. The Horn Book, Inc. Supplements cover 1946-1956, 1957-1966, and 1967-1976.

Each volume begins with an overview of the time period covered. Entries give basic biographical information. Includes bibliographies and indexes.

Rollock, Barbara. Black Authors and Illustrators of Children's Books: A Biographical Dictionary. 2nd ed. New York: Garland Publishing, 1992.

Rollock's biographical dictionary provides brief entries and short bibliographies for noted African-American authors and illustrators. In addition, she provides lists of African-American publishers, distributors, and bookdealers for children's literature. The updated 3rd edition is available in the Reference Library.

Sendak, Maruice. Caldecott & Co.: Notes on Books & Pictures. New York: Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, 1988.

Contrary to the title, the scope of this essay collection is not limited to Caldecott winners. Sendak shows his wide appreciation for a number of children's authors ranging from Beatrix Potter to Margot Zemach to Mother Goose. The second half of the book contains transcripts of his acceptance speeches for the Caldecott Medal, the Hans Christian Anderson Medal, and Laura Ingalls Wilder Award. Citations are given for the original publications of the essays.

Schon, Isabel. ed. Contemporary Spanish-Speaking Writers and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults: A Biographical Dictionary. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1994.

Originally published in Spanish, this biographical dictionary has been translated into English to provide personal data, lists of writings, quotations, and citations to critiques for more that 200 Spanish-speaking author and illustrators for children. The biographees come from Spain, Mexico, and the United States, as well as Central and South America. Appendices include an index and a list of the authors/illustrators by country of origin.

Something About the Author. Detroit: Gale Research, 1971-

Biographical sketches of current children's authors and illustrators. Includes photographs and a comprehensive list of books written or illustrated. Published annually.

Twentieth Century Children's Writers. 3rd ed. Chicago: St. James Press, 1989.

This comprehensive biographical dictionary covers children's authors from the twentieth century. Appendices cover some authors from previous centuries, children's authors who write in foreign languages, and a title list.

Yesterday's Authors of Books for Children. Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1977.

This two-volume set uses quotations and diary entries to provide overviews of the lives and works of children's authors and illustrators who died prior to 1961.